Children of Men

dir. Alfonso Cuarón, 2006

The greatest science fiction immerses us completely in an imagined world to reflect reality back to us while emphasizing certain attributes. When a science fiction film gets it right, I leave a movie seeing the world anew. In my lifetime, only a handful of sci-fi movies have reached this level of transcendence – by Alex Moore, April 10, 2017

Children of Men has been lauded for its immersive, almost invisible special effects: CGI backgrounds that show new digital billboards, or insanely long shots that weave through worn-in landscapes of bombed-out refugee camps. But Cuarón’s more important elements are those that are added in small doses, allowed diegetically into the frame of the film – by Kevin Taylor, April 11, 2017

Most film fans associate director Alfonso Cuarón with spectacular long takes, and I’m no different, but it took a revisit of this film to recognize how functional this style choice is to the success of the film. Yes, they’re technically impressive, but unlike some other recent long takes, Children of Men’s are as functional as they are jaw-dropping – by John Gilpatrick, April 11, 2017

The global political climate has changed in ways that are shocking for many people, and increasing threat of violence and poverty have made many people more openly nationalistic and racist. But shifting political climates give us a chance to reassess what is important, and movies like Children of Men are important for that reason – by Felicia Elliott, April 12, 2017

The point of this reflection is not to lead us to despair, but come to the film’s central message of hope. This heightened sense of reality should, as the film suggests, wake us up to our own. And in the way every good science fiction tale should, it offers a solution to its warning alarm – by Zachary Davis, April 13, 2017

In the end, it’s the unique setting which made District 9 feel so fresh in the first place, and this lack of nuance that makes it fall flat on subsequent viewings. The film does a brilliant job of setting up its world through a series of documentary style segments. It then proceeds to populate that world with a series of one dimensional characters and a conventional action movie plot – by Alex Moore, April 14, 2017

This week on the podcast, John and Sarah welcome former guest Alex Moore to talk about our film-of-the-week, Alfonso Cuarón's Children of Men. Topics include: the real world parallels, long take magic, and clever costuming. Also, the crew wonders what ever happened to Clive Owen – by The Cinessential, April 17, 2017